Keyboard device for illuminating luminous signals for motor cars, motor trucks, and other similar vehicles



Dec. 29, 1931'. CHIAPPA ET AL J. KEYBOARD DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING LUMINOUS SIGNALS FOR MOTOR CARS, MOTOR TRUCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 14, 1929 5 PM v flZiSC ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1931. .1. CHIAPPA ET AL 1,838,742

KEYBOARD DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING LUMINOUS SIGNALS FOR MOTOR CARS, MOTOR TRUCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIIIIIIA l6 .STOP- Figs.

J0 LNV EIORS fli t; Ber-713 6511 1.

Patented Dec. I 29, 1931 UNIT'EDSTATES PATENT OFFICE JOSE CHIAPPA. AND MARIO BERNASCONI, OF BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA KEYBOARD DEVICE FOR ILLUMINATING LUMINOUS SIGNALS FOR MOTOR CARS, lllIjOTOR TRUCKS, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES Application filed September 14, 1929, Serial No. 392,658, and in Argentina June 11,

and uneasy movements, which in some cases I can be usefully made use of in the manoeuvres of the vehicle. With the present invention, I all the inconveniences mentioned are elimi nated, as the simple pressure of a finger applied to the keyboard device is sufficient to illuminate the re uired si n a1. be such Ri ht Left, Stop or Advance if it is desired, one of the novelties of the present invention being the placing of a luminous signal on the front part of the vehicle to indicate, principally to the oflicials directing the traflic, the manceuvre which is about to be executed or initiated.

In the present known devices, the driver can only illuminate the signal Stop when he has efi'ected the manoeuvre of stoppin which is inconvenient for the vehicle behind as its driver can only be aware of. this fact when he is in close proximity to the'preceding vehicle, a difiiculty which is overcome with our device, inasmuch as the signal Stop, as similarly the others, can be made at any moment, independently of the travelling or immobility of the vehicle.

In order that our application may be more clearly understood, we have illustrated same with various figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is an internal lateral view of the vice, without its casing or box.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lowerpart, without its ca sing or box.

Fig. 3 is a view of the disposition of the cables which conduct the current to the signals or lamps. I V

Fig. i is a View of the top part of the device showing the distribution of the cables I? which feed the current to the indicator.

. clearly the construction.

. Fig; 5 is a plan View of the apparatus with its casing or box.

Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view of'the lamp or luminous signal applicable to the rear part of the ve-;.

hicle. I

Fig. 8 is a view of the lamp or luminous signal for the front part of the vehicle.

7 Construction The construction comprises essentially three buttons or keys which on being put in action connect to cables for illuminating the respective signals, and a button which on being pressed disconnects all connections pm.

ing to illuminate the signal Left or Right, respectively. The Fig. 1 shows The said buttons (2'), (d) pass through the cover of the casing or box (t) and are retained by the buttslr) which exert pressure by means of the springs (m) in the grooves which are provided in said buttons, which are provided with right angle contacts and impelled in an upward direction by the levers (p) which exert pressure by means of the springs (s), and are supported at Thethird button or key (6) Fig. 2, is of the same system and. construction, and is placed at the vertex of the triangle forming the present device, which may be nevertheless of any other desired form without departing for this reason from the sphere of the invention.

The disconnecting button (7)) is positioned at the base of the triangle mentioned, be", tweenthe two buttons (5), (d), supported and always pressed upwardly by the spring (h), and by means of a slight pressure touches the levers (p) when it is desired, returning immediately tov its primitive position on the pressure being withdrawn.

The electric current for the working of the device enters by points (7'), Figs. 1, 2, and 4 and leaves by the cables (3' which joined in a flexibletube (is) again separate at a certain distance to malre connection with the corresponding signal.

The luminous signals or lamps are shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The Fig. 7 is a lamp or signal positioned in the rear part of the vehicle. It is provided with transparent signals executed by means of any known or convenient system.

In the present di .wings two arrovs (2),

((Z) are shown, indicating Left and r o m 1 ,1, O u an a: 1

tigi and .no upper re, 1 mop anc m the lowernartthe resleme la n) o on 1 i '1 l ihe big. 8 snows the s J 121.2. ior the trons part ot a velucle, in which the signal Advance may be added or suppressed s deslred.

Working 1 contact by means its angle (a) point of entrance and ducing the current which vi signal and of the lamps, remaining in said position owing to the second groove, into which penetrates the butt and continues always in contact; in order that it may return to its original or normal position, the disconnecting lmtton b) is pressed, which will exert pressure on the end of lever and the latter will push the button in an upward direction and cut oil the connection instantaneously, suppressing the illuniiinafion in its E'cS' ective nal. For the l. :r the Right turn, the operation is identical to that described, and the same procedure is followed for the s gnal to F ,7", it bei g it to press the button (6) in this case, and it it should be desired, there may be added to the front lamp a signal with the word Advance, Fi 8, or any other similar, the characteristic feature of the present invention being the combination of the rear signals with the front and the signal to stop or advance by means of buttons or keys, as may be desired and at any moment, be the vehicle stationary or travelling.

The electric current for the working of what has already been described, as also the material. employed in the manufacture of the various parts, may be any that is adapted to the functions to be performed.

Having now particularly described and determined the nature ofour invention, and the manner in which it is carried out in practice, we declare that what we claim as our exclusive right and property is: a new keyboard device for illuminating luminous signals for motor cars, motor truclcs, and other similar vehicles, constituted:

1. A selective switch for vehicle s eluding a signal circuit, a casi ng, a pc cover for said casing, euteri said casing throu, the perforations in cover, each having two grooves formed therein, angular contact rails on said buttons, spring controlled levers iur'ma. keep ng said buttons par 3 we L allowing a depression o..-. said buttons in o d casing, means for locking the buttons in thci r extended and depressed positions, suppo for said levers, contacts in the signal cria'ut adapted to be engaged by the contact rails o if said buttons to close the signal circuit, and a means for operating said levers to carry the buttons back into their normal position e21- tended from said c: sing after each operation.

A selective switch for vehicle signs includin an electric signal circuit, coinnrismg a casing, a perforated cover tor said casing,

three push buttons extending into said casing through the perforations of its cover, each button having two superposed grooves, an "31+ lar contact rails on said buttons, spring coe trolled levers normally keep ng said buttons partly projecting from 12.. entering the grooves in said but sp for normally keeping d latches in eng; ment with the grooves oi said b ens ing an inward pressing of said bu tons pressed levers :tor normally lreepn tons in their extended position, concae H .th in the signal circuit adapted to be engaged by said contact rails of the buttons to allt the closure of the signal circuit, and, c controlled button engaging the lovers at inner ends to allow their outer ends to pir the buttons back into their normal extc" position, said latches engaging one of grooves on the buttons in their depress ,d and extended position to lock the same in either position.

In testimony whereof, we al'lix our signatures.

JOSE CHIAPPA MARIO BEJNASCONI 

